[tweaktown] AMD cuts 290x by $150

[KaRLiToS]

http://www.tweaktown.com/news/40417...-of-its-radeon-r9-290-r9-290x-gpus/index.html

AMD begins slashing the prices of its Radeon R9 290, R9 290X GPUs
With increased competition from NVIDIA and no new GPUs to launch, AMD is cutting the prices of its Radeon R9 290, and 290X GPUs (NYSE:AMD, NASDAQ:NVDA)

 

[SlowSpyder]

Prices have already dropped at Newegg. The Sapphire Tri-X R9 290 is only $280 shipped. The cheapest GTX970 in stock is $380 (with a $5 gift card). Not bad.

 

[wand3r3r]

The competition is back.

290x $400 vs 980 $550.
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/product/1056?vs=1351

290 $299 vs 970 $330
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/product/1068?vs=1355

It may reduce price gouging on the 970's too.

 

[Borealis7]

does that discount come in the form of a rebate from the electric company?

zing!

hope it trickles down to the 2nd hand market, even tough i swore not to buy another 28nm card ever.
i'll just have to take that hit on the resale value of my card.

 

[Wild Thing]

The competition is back.

290x $400 vs 980 $550.
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/product/1056?vs=1351

290 $299 vs 970 $330
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/product/1068?vs=1355

It may reduce price gouging on the 970's too.

Very good prices.Great to see AMD competing hard for the $.

 

[ShintaiDK]

The competition is back.

290x $400 vs 980 $550.
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/product/1056?vs=1351

290 $299 vs 970 $330
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/product/1068?vs=1355

It may reduce price gouging on the 970's too.

The 290X competes more with the GTX970. The GTX980 is simply in a league of its own.

The 290X needs another 100$ cut really. Specially with its 100W higher powerdraw and lack of features.

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/product/1068?vs=1355

 

[tviceman]

The 290X competes more with the GTX970. The GTX980 is simply in a league of its own.

The 290X needs another 100$ cut really. Specially with its 100W higher powerdraw and lack of features.

I was going to say the same thing. This is great for people who really want the AMD game bundle and/or CFX and have a good-enough power supply, but the 290x is still DOA IMO with the 970 being equal in speed, considerably cooler and lower power draw, and cheaper.

The 980 is the premium product in Nvidia's stack, just like the 290x had a premium price over the 290 and the 780 TI had a premium price over the 780.

 

[tviceman]

The competition is back.

290x $400 vs 980 $550.
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/product/1056?vs=1351

290 $299 vs 970 $330
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/product/1068?vs=1355

It may reduce price gouging on the 970's too.

More appropriately: 290x $400 vs. 970 $350
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/product/1059?vs=1355

 

[Keysplayr]

Yes, the 290X should come down at least another 50 dollars and continue with stellar game bundles if they can. I mean, even if it was evenly priced with the GTX970, there still isn't much reason to go for the 290X over the 970. Very good to see the price cuts starting, though it needs a bit more.

 

[wand3r3r]

The 290X needs another 100$ cut really. Specially with its 100W higher powerdraw and lack of features.

Which features does it lack that are worth $? There are two sides to everything but vague statements like that don't demonstrate that there are "missing" features worth mentioning.

What about the things it does have un-neutered voltage, XDMA crossfire, mantle, better and smoother crossfire (scaling), ... which it provides that the 970/980 don't?

The $10/ year of electricity would take 15 years to raise the cost to 980 levels (+$150). Feel free to market that if you like, but it's a small difference cost wise and the aftermarket cards are fine heat/noise-wise.

I don't know if $399 is the best price but it isn't too bad. In crossfire or 4k it will be faster than a 970/sli too.

The 290 at $299 is very competitive.

 

[ShintaiDK]

Which features does it lack that are worth $? There are two sides to everything but vague statements like that don't demonstrate that there are "missing" features worth mentioning.

What about the things it does have XDMA crossfire, mantle, better and smoother crossfire (scaling), ... which it provides that the 970/980 don't?

The $10/ year of electricity would take 15 years to raise the cost to 980 levels (+$150). Feel free to market that if you like, but it's a small difference cost wise and the aftermarket cards are fine heat/noise-wise.

I don't know if $399 is the best price but it isn't too bad. In crossfire or 4k it will be faster than a 970/sli too.

The 290 at $299 is very competitive.

It lacks DX11.2, 11.3, PhysX, DSR, VXGI and so on on the other front.

299$ for the 290 isnt really competitive either vs a faster 329$ GTX970. 299$ is more around what the 290X should cost.

And its just not 10$ a year is it even if we imagine it to be that low. Its also noise, heating of the room, heating of the case, higher PSU requirements etc.

 

[Keysplayr]

Which features does it lack that are worth $? There are two sides to everything but vague statements like that don't demonstrate that there are "missing" features worth mentioning.

What about the things it does have un-neutered voltage, XDMA crossfire, mantle, better and smoother crossfire (scaling), ... which it provides that the 970/980 don't?

The $10/ year of electricity would take 15 years to raise the cost to 980 levels (+$150). Feel free to market that if you like, but it's a small difference cost wise and the aftermarket cards are fine heat/noise-wise.

I don't know if $399 is the best price but it isn't too bad. In crossfire or 4k it will be faster than a 970/sli too.

The 290 at $299 is very competitive.

Wow, you've made quite a few unsubstantiated claims in just a single post. You might have to spend some time linking to each claim to back them up, unless of course it's just your opinions.

At any rate, all features aside as they can be debated which is better til doomsday, pure performance would be a well grounded metric to consider for the pricing of these GPUs.

299 is a little high for the 290 because the 290X should be around 350 or less. Cuts it too close IMHO.

 

[Keysplayr]

It lacks DX11.2, 11.3, PhysX, DSR, VXGI and so on on the other front.

299$ for the 290 isnt really competitive either vs a faster 329$ GTX970. 299$ is more around what the 290X should cost.

Shintai, the 970s are going for 350 to 380 right now so your 329 price isn't really accurate at the moment.

For example, newegg is OOS for all 329.00 970s and only has a 379.00 Zotac 970 in stock right now.
I haven't seen cards sell out this fast in a long while. Amazing.

 

[ShintaiDK]

Shintai, the 970s are going for 350 to 380 right now so your 329 price isn't really accurate at the moment.

For example, newegg is OOS for all 329.00 970s and only has a 379.00 Zotac 970 in stock right now.

So because Newegg charges that price its what, world price?

http://geizhals.at/eu/zotac-geforce-gtx-970-zt-90101-10p-a1167955.html
http://geizhals.at/eu/palit-geforce-gtx-970-ne5x970014g2f-a1167957.html

Example, 322$ and 328$ without VAT.

 

[Keysplayr]

So because Newegg charges that price its what, world price?

http://geizhals.at/eu/zotac-geforce-gtx-970-zt-90101-10p-a1167955.html
http://geizhals.at/eu/palit-geforce-gtx-970-ne5x970014g2f-a1167957.html

Example, 322$ and 328$ without VAT.

Are you going to keep it real? Or are you going to quote prices that aren't currently realistic? We see what the prices are and it isn't 329 at the moment. It's less than what they can be had for. So don't roll your eyes at me if the number one vendor we all use is the vendor we choose to look at.

Thanks. You want to win, or be the reasonable one in an argument, you have to keep things real.

 

[Attic]

$279 290

$299 290x

That's what i'd put out as the right price.


Start matching up the non reference 290 vs the non reference 970. The PCS+ 290 for one at 1040/1350 with it's triple fan is going to compete much more fully with a 970 than the reference blower 947/1250 290 card the reviews (that all the quoted graphs are drawn from) show. The 290 Tri-X is already at $290 at the egg, that's one of the best 290's on the market and comes with Alien Isolation and Star Citizen. That's a different ballgame than a reference 290 that the swath of comparisons and info is being drawn from, thanks to the ramp of lousy review card choices put up against the 970/980 by all the well known review sites.

 

[SlowSpyder]

The 290X competes more with the GTX970. The GTX980 is simply in a league of its own.

The 290X needs another 100$ cut really. Specially with its 100W higher powerdraw and lack of features.

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/product/1068?vs=1355

I think prices are about right for where things are now. Very few people buy reference R9 290 or R9 290X's. Going by Newegg prices, the Sapphire Tri-X is $280, it is an overclock model at 1GHz / 5200MHz. It probably is neck and neck with the GTX970. There are of course trade offs, the GTX970 is newer and is a good deal better in the power consumption and heat output. But, the Tri-X is $100 cheaper than the cheapest GTX970 they have in stock. Performance out of the box will be very close, and both have room to keep ramping up the clocks. If GTX970 inventory becomes readily available and we start seeing them on special for closer to $300, then AMD probably needs to do something, but I expect that won't happen for a while yet. Though I do think the 290X could come down another ~$25.

 

[ShintaiDK]

Are you going to keep it real? Or are you going to quote prices that aren't currently realistic? We see what the prices are and it isn't 329 at the moment. It's less than what they can be had for. So don't roll your eyes at me if the number one vendor we all use is the vendor we choose to look at.

Thanks. You want to win, or be the reasonable one in an argument, you have to keep things real.

How can you call prices you can buy to right away for unrealistic?

You can also get GTX970 at Tigerdirect for 329$
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...ywords=GTX+970

And since you use "we". Who are "we"? Newegg is just one of countless random retailers.

 

[Keysplayr]

$279 290

$299 290x

That's what i'd put out as the right price.


Start matching up the non reference 290 vs the non reference 970. The PCS+ 290 for one at 1040/1350 with it's triple fan is going to compete much more fully with a 970 than the reference blower 947/1250 290 card the reviews (that all the quoted graphs are drawn from) show. The 290 Tri-X is already at $290 at the egg, that's one of the best 290's on the market and comes with Alien Isolation and Star Citizen. That's a different ballgame than a reference 290 that the swath of comparisons and info is being drawn from, thanks to the ramp of lousy review card choices put up against the 970/980 by all the well known review sites.

I don't think anyone would buy a 279.00 290 if a 299.00 290x could be had. 20.00 more for the extra performance is surely worth it.
I'd say 249.00 for the 290 and 299.00 for the 290X. Could be a bit higher with the right game bundles for sure.

 

[Attic]

The 290x isn't fast enough over the 290 to justify much of a price premium. Could really price the 290x anywhere, it's not the card the matters vs 970/980.

The 290 at sub $300 is the card that matters vs 970/980. The 290 is nearly as fast as the 290x and clocks similarly.


A 1000/1250 290 is 5% from a 1000/1250 290x. A lot of these non reference cards, 290/290x, land at 1000-1040 on the core. 1000-1100 on core is where the 290 is interesting at sub $300, most should do that no sweat.


Though, still, the 970 at $329, particulary if it gets one decent game tied to it, is going to be hard to beat even with 290's priced well below it due to power and OC ability of 970.


The problem for price conscious buyers is going to be if 970 prices remain elevated closer to high 300's. Hopefully stocking issues are resolved and we get the $329-$349 options for the best of the 970's.

 

[96Firebird]

Once 970 stock replenishes, AMD will need to drop further.

 

[Keysplayr]

How can you call prices you can buy to right away for unrealistic?

You can also get GTX970 at Tigerdirect for 329$
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...ywords=GTX+970

And since you use "we". Who are "we"? Newegg is just one of countless random retailers.

Yes, those GPUs can be had for 329 and they are the minority. You need to say that in your arguments.
Also, I think both of those 970s you linked use the short PCB which some folks seem to frown upon and not buy, which is probably
why they are still going for 329.00. Sheesh man.

 

[Rezist]

Can't find any 970's under 380$, and if you want a decent cooler under 420$ in Canada at the moment. So If the 290X is 400$ it's not terrible however I'd say 350$ is more inline with what it should be.

 

[wand3r3r]

It lacks DX11.2, 11.3, PhysX, DSR, VXGI and so on on the other front.

299$ for the 290 isnt really competitive either vs a faster 329$ GTX970. 299$ is more around what the 290X should cost.

And its just not 10$ a year is it even if we imagine it to be that low. Its also noise, heating of the room, heating of the case, higher PSU requirements etc.

To use your usual argument, what games use 11.3? R9 290 and R9 290X will support DirectX 11.2 Tier 2 under Windows 8.1 so it's only 11.3 they might be missing (what uses that?).

Noise is just fud. Heat in a case is suddenly a problem? There were crickets chirping over this heat while the 780 ti/690 etc. were pretty close to the 290/x in power consumption (http://www.anandtech.com/bench/product/1059?vs=1072). A higher psu is also pretty much a fringe concern. I'll be interested in this statement when the 980 ti comes out at 225w+.

If the 290 is ~7% slower than a throttling reference 290, then the much better aftermarket cards (who buys 290/x reference nowadays?) are certainly worth 10% less then the 970. Sure the prices are high atm ($370+) but we can compare MSRP $329 / $299 with a 7% performance difference.

In the end I can see the clear value in the 970, it does appear to be the better card. I just don't value the brand on the box like some of you appear to. I don't place premiums on the brand.

 

[Keysplayr]

To use your usual argument, what games use 11.3? R9 290 and R9 290X will support DirectX 11.2 Tier 2 under Windows 8.1 so it's only 11.3 they might be missing (what uses that?).

Noise is just fud. Heat in a case is suddenly a problem? There were crickets chirping over this heat while the 780 ti/690 etc. were pretty close to the 290/x in power consumption (http://www.anandtech.com/bench/product/1059?vs=1072). A higher psu is also pretty much a fringe concern. I'll be interested in this statement when the 980 ti comes out at 225w+.

If the 290 is ~7% slower than a throttling reference 290, then the much better aftermarket cards (who buys 290/x reference nowadays?) are certainly worth 10% less then the 970. Sure the prices are high atm ($370+) but we can compare MSRP $329 / $299 with a 7% performance difference.

Performance Wand3r3r. Performance. Focus. Like I said, we can argue features all day and none of the features of the 970 I bring up will be useful to you. So might as well blow passed that futile argument altogether.

Where do you think the 290 and 290X should be priced right now?